Weighing mechanism



Aug. 26, 1930. w. s SMITH WEIGHING MECHANISM Filed June 8. 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet ,gwuentm Vllffl? #5353127];

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 8, 1927 26, 1930- w. 5. SMITH WEIGHING MECHANI SM Filed June 8, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 /IIJIIIIlII/IIIIIIIIIIIIIIL tom far ,51 S222 it attozmq Patented Aug. 26, 1930 g NifraD S TES fPATEu'E" OFFICE fiv'an'rsn s; or'cotmirnus, onto This' invention relates zgenerally 'to- -imr provcments 'in weighing. mechanism. and, with reference to themoreispecific features thereof, isiespecially directed to anjim.

95 proved recordi attachmentorunitiadapted-fo'r'; cooperation with various types of weighing means in order tolprovide accurate graphic: record- -of,- the individual weighing operation of suchfweighingldevices 'inorder that the users .of such devices may be provided with. relatively permanent data disclosing definitely and quantitativelyv thewcights applied to sued-devices or mechanisms for weighing purposes.

While the invention has been specifically set forth as useful in connection withi weighin'g devices orscales;.never the-lessgin certain of its: broader: aspe'ctsqthe invention maybe. employed in -,connee tion with, for

example measuring apparatus, and its principles and advantages employed with ,considerable' benefit and} -with corresponding facility as in conjunction with weighing units. l

In the majority 'of recording scales heretofore developed the weighing'unitand the recording unit have been mechanically coupled so as to operate conjunctively by the forces developed through.- theapplication of weight to the weighing. unit proper. Due tothe mechanical complications found in such recording units this placcsa considerable additional load on the weighing unit, so that due to friction. losses, and the mechanical energy necessaryto operate the recording unit, error is apt to be present in the finally recorded weight so as to render such units unfit for service where high degree of accuracy is required.

It is therefore an outstanding object of the present invention to provide a recording unit inconnection with a weighing unit which shall be of such construction and operation that the normal functioning of each 4 5 unit shall be maintained separate or independent of the other unit to prevent interchange of error, the arrangement being such that after the scale unit reaches ta-balancein response to an applied weight the movement of an element thereof from a normal; or neutral position; serves, without friction, or,,=the expenditure of mechanical ener y,.-to fcontrol the extent of movement of 'tie.--record.-producing member of said recording unit, theextentof movement of said' record producing-member. from its normal position: being directly proportional to the extentof movement'of the movable clement of theaveighingunit from its normal iposition -\vhen-;.responding to an applied weigghha t The inventiomconsists in the provision ofa'j-weighing; mechanism formed to embody an' element movable through a plurality of varying positions in proportional response to the-wei'ght'of bodies applied to said weighing mechanism for weighing purposes, together with a; recordingapparatus ofan;indepe'nd ently operating character ,whichis --formed to include a means for positively locking said element in'its various positions of'deflection from normal, and in which recording mechanism there is, provided a movable record producing member which operates subsequent to the locking of said element .and has its effective movement governed by the various positions in which said element is locked, the arrangement being such that the movement of said record producing member from its normal position will be directly proportional to the movement of said scale element from its normal position, whereby complete and accurate registration .is maintained between said weighing and recording unit at any period of operation.

For a further understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the weighing and recording mechanism comprising the present invention,

Figure 2 is an end elevationof the recording mechanism or unit,

Figure -3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view, taken through the recording unit,

Figure t is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure l,

Figure 8 is a detail sectional view taken on the line- SS of Figure 2.

Referring more particularly to the draw:

ings the numeral 1 designates a weighing unit which, In the specific embodiment of the invention disclosed consists of a weigh ing scale formed to include ahas'e' 1 in which is pivotally mounted in the usuat'manner a beam or lever 2, one end ofthe lattcrbeihg connected with a weight 'receive'r o r' plat forin 3, while the other-end is connected with an upright steelya rdrorl 4; Arising from the rear part of the base 1 is an upright frame structure 5, to the upper portion of which is adjust-ably connected a tensioh spring 6, the opposite end of said spring being connected with the upper end'of the 'steeljr'zi'rd rod 4. Normally, the tensioh of the sipi'ii'ig (3 is such as to balance the weight of the platforni or receiver 3 wli'enthe latter unloaded, and thereby maintain the "scale ill the balanced condition; U on this applieition of weights to the-receiver the 'stee 'xi'ard rod is inbred downwardly 'agflinst'the resistance offered by the springg'6', tlrextent of de'fiectio'n' o'r' inovement jet the 4 bein'g lll'OPfll'illOflfltl} to the weight applied to the platform 3. If desired, the'rod 4 may he provided with an indicator 7 which is movable. over the fiiltl graduated surface 8 for the pin-pose of facilitating flle'l'Qiltllll'ff (if the scale and noting the deflection thereof from normal. The frame structu-re'fi may he provided with a dash pot 9, in which is the roll 1. so as m st'ahilize iuul'd'z'i-nipen the vibrations of the rod 4 and associated parts, when the smile is in use. The weighing unit thus (lLSL ed is of standard ronstruetiou and operation and no claim is made to the same l'n-rcinafter per se and thereole I do not desire to he limitcdin an interpretation of the scope of this patent to the specific type of weighing; unit herein described and illustrated. hut desire to include in the purview of the invention all types of weighin}; 'n'nits wherein a movable elementis provided, equivalent to the rod 4, which will var: or shift in position from a gii'e'n' normal when res {ending to the influence of weights of ditlereiitja'roirdupois value.

T he recording meelianisn'i designated generallv hv the. letter B and while its operation is controlled or regulated by the op- 'eration of tile weighing 'u'nit yet the latter does not positively operate the recording upon; an

' provided mechanism. The weighing unit merelv serves to set as it were, the operation of the recording mechanism but does not otherwise enter into its positive function and thus to a large degree, as will be hereinafter explained, the recording mechanism is indendent-ef the weighing mechanism: This 15 one of the" outstanding features of the present inventionfand attention is directed thereteforthe purpose of clarifying and interpreting' the following disclosure. Fixed :movable in unison with the rod 4 is a laterally extending arm 11, the outer ,end of-whiclr; is-i i;\ ardly bent and is pro vided with a head 12. This head moves in parallelism and in unison with" the rod "4, the positions of the-head irarying inexa'et pro portion to the variations in the operating positions of thesteelvaidrod. The head is mounted for vertical tmvel'in anormally free manner-betweeh a air of vertically disoscd clamping bars-13. One of these oars is 'stati'onarily carried by a pai'r'of pins 1 15 which are 'adjustahly mounted in bearing openings formed-in connection with the fragme-structure'fi. Set s rews 15 are utilized for fixingfliejpositionsof the-pins l4 and ctins'equently"the"position of the stationary bar 13 irr-rel'ation to the head 12. The bar-s13- are irormally spaced from engagement with the-head 12 through the use of a-p'air of 'eizpansible'springs 16, and the movable bar 13- also carries a pair of vertillyspaeed pins-or studs 17,- whi.ch are slidably mounted within bm'riirgopenin'gs H therefor in the frame structure- Il=.'e=outer ends of the studs 17 engage normally with a pair of wedge shaped projeetions 18 provided u )on a vertically mm"- abl-e bar 19, jdurnaler in connection with the iram'e structure 5. The lower end oi this bar is normally seated within s notch or depression"20 pro'vidci'l-in the periphery of al disk 2' 1 whieh is'fi'xcd for rotation upon the main operating shaft 22 of-the recordi'n'g! meehanism. This shaft is disposed horizontally for rotatimi about its longitudinal axis in connection with the frame structure and, in this i-Iisa'rn'ce, has'th'e outer end thereof provided with an operating crank or handle which permits the shalt to he :nanually rotated, It is obvious, however, that manual rotation of the shaft nray'he dispenwd with and a power driven or automatic meansprovided in lieu thereof. In order to simplify the development of the principles of the invention I have shown the shaft as being rotated manually, although other suitable means may be employed. It will thus he seen that the plates or bars 13 do wot-normally interfere with the freedom of "operation n'orinally alotted to the scale meellanism: However, when the 'steelyard rod reacl'iesitspositioh of final 39; mirlnzill ig tllisl enlnrgcinentisreeeii ed' de'flcetion i o'rba'laneb in response to 1 'a given 2-1; andt'he in'l'nier'liate elevation of the'bnr customary funetion .f dnoting ix'yei 'l'lts.

rnouiited .21' hirehhir fpocket'afi ro- "ir upon ecording 'w h'eeliofdrun "27 which; in turn,'is loosely fjn oilnted upofi 'the sl-mjft' 22. Driving relationshipbetweenthe plate and the heel 27 is inziintai-ined for ii given period bypro viding the '25 with :1 spring n'essed plungerfisflpioi'i dd. at its outerend \vith a-beveled'enhrrgement within 1i. locking l'ei'ifss 30'provided' in the periphery of a eirenhlr yvzrll 31 i'm'm'ed"inl'egr'nl ly within the 'str.uc'tlire.of'the jli'eel This arrangement of parts issue-h that hen thgsliaft'fi z is rotated the platelilfi hind the loosely inou l1te(l whe e l 2-7. would reroljve linitn 'ith'the'ShaftQ Hoivey'er, by; loekingf the \vhecl 27f:1g2iinst' fi11tlie1' rotation the beveled \ralls'of the recess 30 permit of the retraction'of'the plunger from its hormni position ithin the recess and thereby :illow of continuedIrotationlon the part of the shaft ZQ andthe plate 25 xvithQutefi'ecting the fixed positionof the recording whcel ihe l1ub of-the wl1eel l'lis formed' g'wi'ith a pinion whiehniesl res' with a yertieziily extending rack bar 33, This rack bar is journaled' in'conriection "with the frame "'-'struct'ure 5, and has its upper en'd provided' with afixed collar 34:, between \rhieh and the top ofthe frame-structurethere isinterposed a. coil spring-35, which tends normally "to maintain the rack bar-elevated. Fixed Lupon-the rack bar is 'zwlziterally disposed finger-em 'whieh is normally positioned be- -t\\"een't'he clamping bars 13 and above the head 12. Itwil-lbeseen thet as the wheel "27 rotatesin unison w ith the. shaft 22 the rackibar will'beloweredby the operation of the pinion- 32 a'geinst the-resistenee of the doilfsp'ring 35. ;Thi s lovi ering movement on j 'the palrt "of the} rack bar is arrested by the enga gement of the finger '36 with the head 12, and consequently corresponding rotation j.on' the part" ofthe Wheel-27 is arrested. by j'thefacttliatthe rack 'barcan' not be lowered "afterjthe finger 36 thereof engages'with-thc "positively locked head 12.=

. -The outg, "periphery of the wheel 2 is provided x'vitlii ar'i'areu'a'te' scale or die graduate'd 'prefeiably' 'into points fand :u ailysis, as indicated fit37, an'dthis die ada-pted to register with a; 'striking 'hloek f38, 'movably carried. in connection with'the=*bottom elf-:

his fi-a nie striic'tu're 5'. The block 38 in- "cludesa depeiidin'g' stem 39, which. is adapted to bej en aged fbyQthe onter; end of-a strong 1e:if "s' pr1n 4 0; the"tendeney of :thc

spring' beirig to o'rce' the blockupwardly;

:rntdengagementWith the isurfaoe of the printing die 37: Normally;during-the -ro- -tation "o f"the-'shii ftf-22 the block 1s spaced 'from the die;'37by meansof'a 'i ertically lrnovalble plun'gerfi il; the' loiver' end of the latter being in engai 'ernent ''with the spring 40, and the upper-end tliereof in engagement "with the peripher'yoffa' carn 42 fixed upon the l sh'eft 2 2. The operation of the-mechainis'm' has been so timed that when'the reeording wheel 27has been brought-to a emuplete stop theeng'zi ement of the finger 36 withthe locked hem 12, the cam 42 will be released from engagement with the upper end of the plunger 41, sons to allow the fixed leaf spring '40 to spring upwardly, moving the block 38 in unison tl'lerewith. A recording strip of paper'or cardboard over \vhiehis placed a strip of ea-rbon paper is positioned between the block 38 and the die 37, so that when the block moves upwardly the recording strip or ticket will receive the "impression from the recording die 37, which gives the weight in poundsnnd ounces of the weight applied to the receivingplatform 3 of the scale unit. -The spacing of the gra-(luationson' theinrpression from the die 37 is in accordancewith or in proportion to the movement of the weighing element 4 from a' neutral or given position, and. this can besealedjor ascertainedwith such accuracy as to provide for the closest'co-ordination between the weighin and reeording units:-

.tween the plunger ,and the avali .of the pocket 36- so that; the spring ,may return the rack: barand the -\vh eel 2-7. to; their nor- -inah-positions. :Vv hen the pin-43 rides oil of the cam surf-aeeA?) the head29 of the plungor is ,againscatedwithm thereeessflilorancl the 1 parts of the recording. mechanism are again -.nor1nally held-and= locked .for. a.- subs quent. peration. It .will be appreciated -that=normally there is. sufiicicnt frictional pressure between the head 29 .and the periphery of the POC'kGCf'ZG provided in -the wheel. ;27-= to 1 hold the spring: 35 depressed, but? by: theinction. of the carn surface and i-thepin this pressure is momentarily remechanism;

leased tea-110w; the; parts; to return. to their normal. positions.

If :desired, the head 12.xnay, have ;.upper surface. provided -with; a block 46 pressed. up-

- wardly. by va-strongencased spring .47 situated in the-head; 1 This block lservesto absorb the shock incident to the engagement of the finger '36 with; thenhead .12, to prevent-i any. loss: in position o n ;the p:i rt o f;.the clamped head; 12. However theqresiliency of the block-A6 is. QOLSUfilCIGDt .to. 1n ,any way impair the accuracy ofthe record ng A: spring .48. cooperates .with the bar- 19 to maintain the lower end of the latter positively. in engagement with .:the

periphery of .thc .dislr.21,'aand the engagement of the lower-eiulof this .barwith the notch or depressionjfllt) -also.'serves.to lock parts of"- the recording mechanism in :1 normal or given position.

-In view of the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides a simple, reliable, can y operated recording: mechanism practicaliy applicable for use in connection with weighing scales-through the use of which the operator of the scale, as weil as the customer will be given. :ngraphic record of each weighing operation .on the part of the scale. lt will be observed that in contra-distinction to other record ng types of scales the present. invention does not require the scale mechanisnrper set-o perform any other function than to merely seat orv trip the recording mechanism. lhis therefore relieves the scale mechanism oi any added functional duties, such as effecting' the operation of the recording mechanism. .This produces bothia weighing. and recording mechanism of high accuracy.

hat is claimed is: .7 1. The combination with a scale having an eiement movable to different positions in proportion to the weight of the article weighed,

of a recording unit comprising. a supporting frame,.a' shaft mounted for rotation on said frame, a recording wheel. carried by said shaft, means: operable upon the initial movement of saidshaft for locking said element in its effective pos1t1on,-means for limiting the imovement of said recording wheel in accordance with, the effective position ofsaid element, amovableprinting block carried by said frame, a. recording strip between said blockand wheel a cam on said shaft, and .a

4 connection between said shaft and recording wheel permitting of. the rotation of said shaft afterthe arrestof movement of said wheel wvhereby, said. eam will cause said block' to 'eft'ectam impression on said strip in accordance with. raduations on the outer surface ofsaid-whee '2.:The combination with a .scale having frame structure,.,al shaft ournaled; in said. frame, .a remrding wheel on said shaft havinga. notchjnits inner periphery, a hub fixed'to sardshaft, a spring pressed plunger carried by said huhla and normally occupying said notch, means operable upon the initial movement-of said shaft for locking said ele- ..ment in its effective; position, a. gear carried by said recordin .wheel, a rack bar, a finger on said bar positioned in thejpath of. said 'eleinentiand serv' tol. limit the .movement of said. .recording a eel inaceordance with the effective posit1on .of..sa1d element, a spring connected .w1th said-rack bar, and means .formed. withsaidframe and plunger to retract thelatter from engagement with the periphery of said -wheelwhereby said spring will return the recording wheel to its normal position. i

3. ..T he combination with a scale havingan element movable from a normal position in H0 proportional increment to the weight of bodies applied to said scale-for weighing purposes, of a recordingapparatus for providing graphic indications of the weight of said bodies, comprising a rotatableshaft, a 5

circular record producing member carried by said shaft havinga; graduated outer pe- .riphery, means-operable upon the initial movement of saidshaft forlocking said element inits eifectiveposition, means for limiting themovement of said record producing member in accordance with the effective position of said element, a movable printing block positioned in close proximity with the outer graduate-d surface of said record producing member, a record strip iterposed between said block and said graduated surface, a cam carried by said shaft,

and a spring-and plunger mechanism operatedb vsaid cam for effecting a striking we blow on said block whereby a printing impression is made on said strip.

4. The combination with a scale having an element movable to different positions in proportion to the weight of the article Weighed, of a recording unit comprising a supporting frame, a shaft mounted for rotation on said frame, a recording wheel carried by said shaft, means operable upon the initial movement of said shaft for locking said element in its effective position, means for limiting the movement of said recording wheel in accordance with the effective position of said element, a movable printing block carried by said frame, a recording strip between said block and wheel, a connection between said shaft and recording wheel permitting of the rotation of said shaft after the arrest of movement of said Wheel, and means operable with said shaft for controlling the printing action of said block.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

\VAL'IER S. SMITH. 

